A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to take part in the Clontarf Foundation’s Cultural Immersion in Far North Queensland, gaining an on-Country cultural learning experience with the region’s local Clontarf Academy and a first-hand insight into the program’s day-to-day impact.
Rich in both natural beauty and cultural heritage, the Western Cape York Peninsula region features stunning beaches, unspoiled wilderness, and unrivalled fishing. It is also home to several Traditional Owner groups, including Anathangayth, Alngith, Peppan, Thanakwithi and Wathyn each contributing to the unique diversity of the area.
Starting off in idyllic Weipa, we jumped straight into Academy life, having an opportunity to meet the boys, Matthew Hamdorf and Western Cape Clontarf Academy team before packing for camp and hitting the road.
Joined by other partners, we got a taste of what this incredible region has to offer while getting to know the boys and learning more about the Clontarf programme, which included a camp and fishing at Pennefather River, time with the Napranum Rangers (including identifying croc tracks on the beach), a student engagement lunch, and a sunset dinner on the beach with Clontarf Alumni and staff, before we returned to Cairns, for the Clontarf Mental Health Fun Run.
APA Group has partnered with Clontarf since 2011, and the Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, confidence, life skills, and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, and the experience offered me a window into the important aspects of Clontarf’s work, getting to watch first-hand the joy of the boys singing together on our return trip from camp, to the confronting realities of the 6am school pick-ups and morning training session.
The experience reinforced why programs like Clontarf matter, and the role organisations like APA can play in supporting them.